A unique genomic library was constructed from overlapping DNA fragments of
the full cowpox virus (CPV) strain GRI-90. Restriction genomic maps were co
mpared between two CPV strains GRI-90 and Brighten and the vaccinia virus s
train LIVP. It was shown that the restriction map of the CPV strain GRI-90
slightly differed from those of the CPV strain Brighten and the vaccinia vi
rus strain LIVP, but almost completely coincided with them in the central g
enomic region. The differences occurred mainly in the variable terminal reg
ions.